Moore rallies college students, Democratic hopes in Missouri

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Filmmaker and political activist Michael Moore delivered a message of certainty, comedy and Bush-bashing Saturday to about 2,200 people during his visit to the smallest city on his "Slacker Uprising Tour."

Moore's stop at Northwest Missouri State University was sponsored by the school's Young Democrats organization. It's one of 60 visits he'll make nationwide in an effort to convince more people to vote, and he's hoping they'll secure Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's victory.

"If you don't sign up, if you don't volunteer for this cause, we're not going to pull this off," Moore told the audience.

"Everything he says is really anti-Republican, but it's clear that he doesn't care what you believe in, he just wants you to go vote," said Nathan Young, 22, an English major at Northwest.

The university chapter of College Republicans protested and waved signs outside the stadium gates during Moore's speech.

To the delight of his audience, Moore invited the two dozen protesters inside the stadium.

His opposition said Moore only fueled the fire for the Republican Party.

"I wasn't too fond of anything he said, and I still stand firm in saying they were lies," said College Republicans President Tracy Swearingen. "I liked how it took away from his own message to focus more on us, and I'm very glad we did what we did."

During his speech, Moore cited the accomplishments of presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon but criticized the Republican Party of today.

"These days, the people who hijack the Republican Party are no longer Republicans. They're radical extremists who believe only in lining the pockets of those who endorse and support and finance them. This is very sad," he said.

At the end of his speech, Moore handed out underwear and ramen noodles to students who pledged to vote for Kerry.

Last week, the Michigan Republican Party asked prosecutors to file charges against him for the gesture, alleging it violated election laws in Michigan.

"On Friday I filed a theft complaint asking who stole the sense of humor from the Michigan Republican Party," Moore said.